F-U Hugh Jidette

Well, the election season is finally past us. I'm sure everyone on both sides is relieved to see the end of the smear commercials. I think we have a collective limit to the amount of this stuff they can shovel at us before we balk. Back of the napkin survey of the election shows that when the ads were so egregious that stations pulled them, that candidate lost.

But then just when you thought it was safe to turn the TV back on, the Peter G. Peterson foundation launches a cynical, craptacular piece of faux advocacy, Hugh Jidette for President. In case you have been lucky not to have seen it yet, this is a fake political commercial touting the candidacy of Hugh Jidette (Huge Debt, get it?)

I'm not going to link to the ad, or to the website, oweno.com because there is no need to. It's an intentionally benign, information free zone that's designed to get you on board with one issue: Government debt is bad. It's unsaid, but assumed, it also means Government spending is bad.

At least that's the cover.

You see, the concern about the deficits is so strong that ... Peterson's advocating for an *EXTRA* tax cut on incomes over $250,000, above and beyond the tax cut extension on the first $250k. An unfunded, unpaid tax cut that increases the deficit. But just for 2 years! Bwahahahaha. If you believe that, I've got a bridge for sale. Who among us actually believes that in two years Peterson will want to end this tax cut on incomes over $250k?

When that time comes and he does indeed try to extend these tax cuts it will NOT be a new development. And if anyone actually believes it will be a change of heart then you are a blithering idiot. I know it's not good to call my readers idiots, but I really don't think any of you are stupid enough to take what Peterson is saying at face value.

But I see something more insidious about the Hugh Jidette ad campaign. It chips away at the voters' general enthusiasm and confidence in the political process. Where I believe the themes of the next election could, and should, enforce the Democrats' platform, this campaign attempts to invoke cynicism into the hearts and minds of voters. It strikes right to the idealism that Obama ran for President on, and to his economic stimulus plan. It's a fake ad for a fake candidate, but the theme of the ad is distinctly anti-Obama.

It's repulsive in so many ways ... because it reinforces our distrust in politics, and especially in campaigns. And also because it continues to wear down the voters. I'm so sick and fucking tired of political ads and here's a new stream of vile sludge that has no expiration date. So I say to you, F-U Hugh Jidette!